What if mental wellness could be protected as easily and affordably as physical health, making mental health care an essential part of accessible insurance coverage rather than a last resort when support is needed most?
For millions of people, particularly students, young professionals, families and underserved communities, the cost of therapy, access to essential medication and limited insurance benefits can make mental health support difficult to obtain. MindSure, a student-led digital mental health microinsurance innovation originating from Maseno University, seeks to address this gap by bringing financial protection, preventive wellness and accessible mental health support into one integrated platform.
Developed by Bravton Choni, Daniel Omondi, Peter Karisa and other team members from Maseno University, MindSure is designed to move beyond traditional insurance models that primarily respond after a health challenge has emerged. Its approach combines actuarial modelling, AI-powered personalisation, behavioural incentives and digital health technology to support early detection, affordable care pathways and sustained mental wellness.
The platform focuses on common mental health challenges, including depression, anxiety, stress, burnout, adjustment disorders and sleep-related difficulties. Its proposed coverage integrates mental health assessments, tele-counselling, therapy access, essential psychiatric medication benefits through appropriate providers, wellness tracking and emergency support pathways. By connecting these services within one ecosystem, MindSure aims to make mental health protection more accessible to students, individuals, families, schools, clinics and organisations.
At the heart of the innovation is a prevention-first approach. Through AI-powered screening, personalised wellness insights, self-care tools and behavioural rewards, users are encouraged to engage with their mental wellbeing before challenges escalate. Its actuarial framework supports risk assessment and pricing, while its digital-first design aims to expand access through web platforms, USSD and shortcode services, lightweight applications and other channels suited to users with limited internet connectivity. The MindGuide AI chatbot is also undergoing testing as part of the platform’s development.
What distinguishes MindSure is its integration of mental wellness and financial protection. Rather than treating mental health as a secondary benefit, the innovation positions it as an essential component of a more inclusive insurance ecosystem. Its model seeks to connect prevention, personalised support, insurance coverage and behavioural engagement while creating pathways for underserved populations to access care.
MindSure’s journey has already gained recognition through the Western Regional Product Development Comp
etition, where the team emerged as winners, earning an opportunity to present the innovation at the 2026 National Product Development Competition at Daystar University. The national platform enabled the team to showcase its work to delegates, receive valuable feedback and open conversations with potential industry collaborators.
Unlike concepts still at the initial proposal stage, MindSure has completed its core product research, platform development, and actuarial modelling and pricing work. The project is now in pilot testing, including evaluation of its AI models, MindGuide chatbot, and integrations for students, families, schools, institutions and partners. Further testing, clinical and operational validation, partnerships, and regulatory alignment remain important to its responsible deployment and expansion.
The next chapter is about turning this progress into sustainable impact. MindSure presents an opportunity for investors, insurers, healthcare providers, technology partners, educational institutions and organisations to support its business model and go-to-market strategy, sustainability and risk management, regulatory and ethical standards, implementation roadmap, and financial and impact projections. With the right partnerships and resources, the team aims to advance a locally developed innovation with the potential to serve wider communities across Kenya and beyond.
Through its Product Development Competition, the Actuarial Students Society of Kenya (ASSK) continues to provide a platform for emerging actuaries to move beyond numbers, challenge established systems and develop solutions to pressing social and economic problems. MindSure demonstrates how actuarial knowledge can intersect with technology and healthcare to explore new approaches to financial protection.
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indSure is live at mindsure.co.ke, offering interested stakeholders an opportunity to explore the platform and engage with the team as it advances through pilot testing.
Interested in investing, partnering or collaborating?
For enquiries about MindSure’s business model, go-to-market strategy, institutional integrations, sustainability, regulatory framework or financial projections, contact the team at info@mindsure.co.ke or reach the Actuarial Students Society of Kenya at info@assk.or.ke.
MindSure’s vision is clear: mental health protection should not be a privilege reserved for a few, but a more accessible part of a healthier, more financially resilient future.
This product was presented in this year’s (2026) National PDC held at Daystar University